Question on FLR(M) renewal

[ronzuk]

Main Applicant
Initial entry: 9 April 2011
- Was on tier 2 ICT Long Term, then Tier 2 General and then got ILR on 20 Aug 2021 by 10 year long residency route
- Now got Natualisation approved, pending Oath ceremony

Spouse:
Initial entry to UK with leave to enter: 24 July 2012
Left on 14 April 2014 and visa expired.
New entry to UK with new leave to enter visa from outside: Entry on 20 Jan 2015
Large holiday gap - 18 March 2017 - 1 October 2017 (197 days. More than 6months/184 days)


Child 1:
Initial entry:
Entry into UK: 20 Jan 2015
Large holiday gap - 18 March 2017 - 1 October 2017 (197 days. More than 6months/184 days)
Dob: June 2014

Child 2:
Entry into UK: 1 Oct 2017
Dob: June 2017

Spouse is now in SPOUSE/PARTNER Leave to Remain.
Children: Dependent Leave to remain
Visa issued on: 15 Sept 2021
Expiring on 12-04-2024
They are in 5 year route. And the first 2.5 years of FLR(M) is nearing expiry
All are Indian nationals, born outside the UK, and have Indian passports

Questions -
- Since my Spouse and Children's visas are expiring on 12 April 2024, I am thinking of submitting the extension application on 5 Feb and thereafter delaying biometrics until the end of March so that I can avoid the increase in IHS charges. Is that okay? How long I can wait after application submission for biometrics?
- Can I apply for my SPOUSE's 10-year-long residency ILR application by JAN 2025? Will a gap of more than 197 days be a problem? What sort of reasons I can give that they can consider for an exception?
- For the children is there any way of applying for ILR/Naturalisation without waiting another 2.5 years?

[CR001]

- Since my Spouse and Children's visas are expiring on 12 April 2024, I am thinking of submitting the extension application on 5 Feb and thereafter delaying biometrics until the end of March so that I can avoid the increase in IHS charges. Is that okay? How long I can wait after application submission for biometrics?

Should be ok. You have 45 working days to enroll biometrics. Plan accordingly.

- Can I apply for my SPOUSE's 10-year-long residency ILR application by JAN 2025? Will a gap of more than 197 days be a problem? What sort of reasons I can give that they can consider for an exception?

No, her long residence is broken. There are no exceptions, the rules are very clear.

- For the children is there any way of applying for ILR/Naturalisation without waiting another 2.5 years?

No there is not. They follow the same immigration path as your wife, FLR(M) extension, then ILR.

[ronzuk]

Thank you so much for clarifying. Much appreciated.

[ronzuk]

Hi for the above, I am about to attend the biometrics on 2-April. Submitted the application on 5-Feb and paid online.
But the documents I am uploading is only now. I just now noticed that in the checklist there is a statement as - Upload your checklist and documents to the self-scan facility within 10 working days. Which I missed.

Will that become a problem?

[AmazonianX]

Hi for the above, I am about to attend the biometrics on 2-April. Submitted the application on 5-Feb and paid online.
But the documents I am uploading is only now. I just now noticed that in the checklist there is a statement as - Upload your checklist and documents to the self-scan facility within 10 working days. Which I missed.

Will that become a problem?

You are to upload supporting documents before. If possible continue to upload now, and take same and scan to appointment.